Since 1979 the number of foreign students studying in the U.S. has doubled – 11% of the 1.7 million graduate students in this country are foreign. The top ten countries sending students here are: China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Canada, Japan, Turkey, Germany and Mexico. The leading fields of study are engineering, business and management, physical and life sciences, math and computer sciences, and social sciences.

Funding for most international graduate students comes from the U.S. college or university and from personal and family sources. Most private financial aid companies will lend money to international students if they have either an American co-signer or good credit.

Because the backbone of financial aid graduate programs is the Stafford Loan program, which is available only to U.S. citizens, international students without personal resources often need to find multiple sources of funding for their graduate education.

If you are planning graduate or professional study in the U.S. and need information on funding you may find it helpful to check out the following sites.

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International
• American Association of University Women (AAUW)
• GATE Student Loan Program
• Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority
• The Smart Student Guide to Studying in the USA
• Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
• ASIA-HELP: interest free loans for students from Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Must apply through the Office of International Programs
• GMsupplier.net (Citibank School Loans)
• Source of financial information for international students
• Advice on choosing, financing and supporting education for British students in the U.K. and abroad